Aircraft



Oct 18 G. B. STARKWEATHER AIRCRAFT 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 11.. 192e l 164.5,7 Oct' i8 1927 G. B. STARKWEATHER 79 Y AIRCRAFT Filed Jan. l1. 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 18, 1927. l

G. B. sTARKwx-:ATHER AIRCRAFT Filed Jan. 1l. 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 ano: nu

l Oct" 18 1927' G. B. STARKWEATHER 9 AIRCRAFT Filed Jan. 11. 192e 4 sheets-sheet 4 annum,

Patented Oct. 18, 1927.

"UNITED STATES' vP-AilaN'r -orificia4 GEORGE B. STARKWEATHER, or WASHINGTON, nIs'rRIo'r or coLUMBIA.

' AIRCRAFT.

Application filed January 11, 1926. Serial No.780,v533.

plane when at rest would be equally difficult or impossible to find.

For effective use in exploring unknown regions such as the frozen regions of the Arctic or Antarctic and mountainous regions itis necessary to have the aeroplane not only adapted to land where alighting might be impossible for a machine with landing gear adapted for descending upon a level field, but adapted also to remain without damage wherever it may land and to be adapted to take flight readily from its landing place. v

It is an especial object of thisinvention to provide a construction'of aeroplane and landing and anchoring means for use with it by which the important requirements for satisfactory results with an aeroplane in ex-l ploration work may be secured.

lVith the objects above indicated, and other objects hereinafter explained in view, my invention consists in the construction and combination of elements hereinafter described and claimed. 1 Referring to the drawings Figure 1 is a top plan view of the .body

or hull of an aeroplane embodying mylinvention.

Figure 2 is a side view of the same showing the aeroplane at anchor.

Figure 3 is a front view of the same. y Figure l is a detail plan view of a portion of one of the wings.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal vertical central sectional view on an enlarged scale of the construction at the center of the aeroplane. Figure 6 is a. horizontal sectional view on line 6 6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a detail view showing-the preferred construction for connecting the anchor part with its base socket and Figure 8 isl a view showing a modified construction for connecting the anchor part with its base socket. In the drawings 1 indicates the boat `by bevel gears 5, 6, with a vertical shaft 7 are shown by broken lines in Figure 3, so u as to lessen the resistance yto the rising of fapplied. It is not intended lto limit the inshaped body or hull of my aeroplane, 2indicates the mainshaft driven by motor 3l i carrying at its forward end propeller 4" and connected in any convenient manner as near fbut somewhat forward of the centerl of the body 'or hull, carrying at its upper`v end a helicopter or-lifting propeller 8. It l is of course to be understood that 'the connections arey such that either the forward propelleror the helicopter or both may be drivenl at any one time. At the Vrear end ofthe body or hull are arranged the usual rudders 9.' From the upper edges of the body or hull 1 struts 10, 11, 12 and 13 extend upward a suitable distance above the plane of the upper edges of the body or hull, the lstruts' 12 and 13 being preferably inclined outward as shown. The upper ends of these struts Lare suitably lconnected at their yupper ends and braced by diagonals 14 so as to form a rigid superstructure sufficiently strong to support wings 16 and 17 which are hinged to' the side bars of the superstructure at 18 and 19 respectively so as to beswung by cords 20, 21 landr22, 23 to the` horizontal *80 position in which they are shown inFigure 3 in full lines when the aeroplane isto bel driven'foiward by propeller 4 or when setf tling down on to the anchoring. device, and to be swung to the position in which they the aeroplane under the action of the helicopter 8 or under the action of the catapult hereinafter described. The construction thus far shown and described is to be understood as conventional so far as its general features are concerned, and as a typical form of aeroplane. to which vmy invention may be,

vention to its use with the particular con-:- 'structionof aeroplane shown. y

Atthe center of gravity `of the body or i hull 1 'I' arrange a vertical tubular socket 25V Vextending from the bottom of the body or 10o hull to the plane of its upper edges, which may for convenience be termed its deck l level, thoughthe hull or body is not intended to be decked over, thoughfit may have from 4 front to rear end a central strip 26 to serve as a support for the motor, driving shaft land other vnecessary mechanism. Atv the center of theV bottom of thebody or hull is arranged a forging or plate 27 through the center of which the tubular socket 25 eX- tends, the lower end of the tubular socket kbeing outwardly turned to form a bearing flange 28 for a purpose to be explained. This tubular socket 25 is closed at its upper end except for a'central opening 29 for pas-` sage of a rope 30.

In addition to the central openingin which is secured the lower end of the tubular socket 25, the forging or plate 27 has `formed in it two openings, 31y and 32, each ofa diameter large enough to permita member of the crew to pass through it. @pening Blis Vforward of the center and opening 32is to the rear of the center.

- rforging or plate 27 ribs 33, 34, extend forward and rearward, ribs 35 and 36 extend from the central at right angles to the longitudinal center line and ribs 37, 38, 39 and 40 `extend diagonally from the center to the struts at the corners of the superstructure. The numberof these ribs may be increased as may be required to Vafford sufficient support to the outer skin or shell of the body or hull.

,. Secured to and rising from the rims of the openings 31 and 32 are cylinders 41 and 42 extending to the `deck level forming manholes through which .the members of .the crew may get aboard or leave the craft. VTo aid in the passage of members of the crew through these manholes I provide a drum 43 having bearings inv brackets 44 secured to the longitudinal deck strip 26 on opposite sides of the cent-er. Y This dru1n43 carries a rope 45- `preferably -wound atleast twice about itfand the diameter of the drum` is suchV ,that oneportion of the rope hangs down at the center of the forward manhole and the other hangs down at the center of 1 therearmanhole. The rope 45 is preferably endless and may be of any length desired.

The tubular socket 25 is intended to receive a post which, when secured at its lowerl end to a suitable stationary support, may serve to hold the aeroplane from bodily movement in vany direction while permitting Y the passage of rope 30, is provided at diametrically Vopposite points with slots `51,

adapted' to permit the cross bar 53 to pass freely through them, has at the lower end of each slot a .lateral notch 54 adapted to receive and retain the portions of the cross bar which extend through `these slots. The post is A:provided on its exterior with a screw thread 55 and a nut 56 having its esteriori From this Y diameter somewhat less than the inner diam'- eter of the tubular socket 25, the arrangement b eingr such that by screwing thenut down on the post the cross bar will be forced downward to the lateral notches 54 against the force of elastic strips 57, which are secured at their upper endsto the head 59 of the post and secured at their lower ends to the cross bar 53. After the cross bar has been thus forced down and engaged in the notches l54 the'nut should be returned to the upper end of the port. This will leave the cross barv at the lower end' of the post under tension of the elastic strips i 57, 58. The cross bar is of suchlength, that its ends bear against the outturned bearing flange 28 so that when released from the notches 54 it will be forcibly impelled Vupward by `theelastic strips and will force theV aero lane bodily upward, the force being de-v. pen ent upon the strength of the 'elastic4 strips and being that of a catapult.

Y The post- 50 is to be secured to a stationary socket 6() here shown as carried by a,

screwor earth auger 6l of any convenient length adapted to be screwed into the earth f atfthe point where the aeroplane is to land.'-

Any convenient means by which this socket may be 'lXedly secured in position in earth, or rock'or ice or any other surface material f maybe used in Place of the Garth auger it* i being essential only that the socket be firmly. Y Y Vheld in fixed position, The socket 6()V is prof.

vided at diametrically opposite` points with notches 62 extending Adownward from its upper face toreceive the cross bar In the preferred construction the `socket extends upward within the lower'end of the post 50` and is provided on its exteriorwith pins 63 with which bayonet slots 64 formed in the lower end portion of the post and adapted to engage to lock the postto the socket, In

this construction, as shown in Figure 7, the

post is provided with anoutwardly extendf ing annular liange 65, having openings through 1t for the cross bar 53, to serve as a bearing flange onwhich the outturned Y flange 28 bears.

Instead of this arrangement the lower end of the post may extend into the socket and may carry pins 66 to engage bayonet slots 67 inthe interior of the socket, as shown in Figure 8, the upper faceof the socketin this construction serving as the bearing forthe flange 28. u Y f side opening 68 for passage of rope SOand is provided within it with for this rope.

Mounted in suitable supports 70, here 120 The socket is preferably provided with a l guide pulleyl 69` The wings 16 and 17 are each preferably provided with one or more openings 75, here shown as circular, each provided with a flap- 76v .slightly less in area than the opening 75 and flexibly secured at its forward edge to the material of the wing at the forward edge of the opening 75, the flap being normally held by the elasticity of ,the material of which it is formed, in the opening in line with the main portion of the wing, but being free to swing upward or downward in response to air currents and to thus aid in stabilizing. l

While the aeroplane is shown as a monoplane it will be understood that -vmy invention is equally applicable to a biplaneor te an aeroplane having more than' two pairs of wings. f v

It being assumed that the aeroplane is on a flight .through the air and itis desired to make a landing and there is no field suitable for landing and no open water of sufficient extent. They speed of the aeroplane is reduced so far as possible without crashing and if necessary the helicopter is set in operation to hold the aeroplane from dropping too rapidly. By means of the rope 45 one, or more, of the crew lowers himself through-one of the manholes to the ground carrying with him, or having lowered to him a post 50 and a socket 60 with such tools as may be required to set the socket firmlyv 1n the earth, rock, ice or other surface ma-r terial. He, or they, then set the socket 6() rfirmly in the surface material and lock the Then by screwing nut 56 and the cross bar is rotated sufliciently'to `cause it to be engaged in notches 54.

While the post is being thus set in place the aeroplane may circle about near the landing place picked out, so as to be brought back when the post is set to a position to bring the socket 25 as nearly as possible ldirectly over and in line with the post, The lower end of rope 30 is dropped down and, by the man or men on the groundis passed through the opening in the upper end of the post down through the post around pulley 69 and out through opening 68.' The knot 8O at the upper end of the rope prevents the rope from getting away while permitting the rope to be drawn up and coiled` away when not needed for use. The rope having been passed through the post-fand out through opening 68 in the socket and the helicopter being operatedpto prevent the aeroplane from dropping, a pull on r'ope 30 will bring the socket 25 into line withthe post and down onto it until the flange 28 rests on the supporting' flange. The rotation of the helicopter being"v stopped the. aeroplane will I come to. rest. "lVhatever the direction ofthe wind may be aft-er the aeroplane is thus brought to rest the aeroplane will turn on the'postas apivot to point into the wind justas a weather vane turns to point into the wind. And as the wind will not press against the side of the` aeroplane even a( wind of high velocity will have little effect. The aeroplane may rest on the post as long as may be desired. l

lVhen it is desired to resume flight the rope 30 is drawn up through the post and the upper end of the socketand coiled or otherwise disposed of so as to be out of the way. The helicopter is then set in operation the wings 16 and 17 being turned down so as to lessen the resistance to upward iovementr vThe cross bar 53 is then disen,

gagedifrom the notches 54 by a pull by any convenient instrument on its ends and the elastics 57, 5S, immediately impel the aeroaeroplane sufliciently above the ground surface for safe flight. As thel aeroplane lreaches the necessaryheight the lwings are swungto horizontal position and the pro- 'i pellen 61 is started.

Afterthe aeroplane is thus in the air and V under control it may circle around to bring the endlessI rope 45` within rea-ch of the meml might, for instance be lashed or otherwise secured to a stump or tree. top, it being essential only thatit be firmly secured in fixed position.

Itwill, of course, be understood that the size of the hull or body, the numbers of propeller-s for forward driving or for lift'- ing,"and details of construction may be varied as desired so long as the essential features of the socket at the center of gravity ,l

to 'receive the anchor post with the ribs radiating from'its base -is presen-t 1n the construction.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

l. In aircraft having a body or hull of boat form, a vertical socket atthe center of the body or hull adapted to receive and rotate on a fixed anchor post and having the ribs for the body or hull radiating from the base of the socket. Y

2. In aircraft having a body or hull of boat form, avertical socket at the center of the body or hull adapted to receive and rotate on a fixed anchor post and `having the ribs for the body or hull radiating from the base of the socket, and a rope extendingr down through the socket to the anchor post.

3. In aircraft having a body or hull of boat form, a vertical socket at the center of the body or hull adapted to receive and rotate on a fixed ,anchor post, and manholes adjacent to thesocket, one forward of the socket and the other in rear of it, extending through the bottom of the hull or body.

4. Inaircraft havingr a body or hull of boat form,V a vertical socket at the center of "through the bottom' of the hull or body, a

drum above the upper ends of the manholes having a diameter equalv to the distance between the centers Vof the manholes, and an endless rope orband carried on the drum and so arranged that a portion of the endlessrope or band depends through each man hole at its center. n

In aircraft havingr a `body or `hull of boat form, a vertical socket at the center of the body orV hull adapted to receive and roi tate on a iixed anchor post, manholes adjacent to the socket. one forward of the socket and Athe :other in rear of it, extending through the bottom of the hull or body, a drum above the upper ends of the manholes having a diameter equal to the distance betweenrthe centers of the'manholes, and an.

boat form, a. vertical socket Vat the center of the body or hull adapted toV receive and rotate on ai fixed anchor post, manholes adjacent tothe socket, one forward of the socket and 'the other in rear of it, extending 'through the bottom of the hull orbody, and

ribs `for the body or hull radiating from'the base of the socket.

7 In aircraft having a body or hull of boat form, a vertical socket-at the Vcenter of ribs for the body or hullradiatingfrom said plate or casting. Y

8. In aircraft having'a body boat form, a vertical socket at Vthe center yof J the body or hulladapted to receive andfro- .v tate on a fixed anchor postanda lifting procs;

peller and means for, operating it carried by the body or hull. i 9; In aircraft having a boat form,a verticalfsocket at the center of the body or hull adapted to receive and 'rol tate on a fixed anchor post and a lifting-pro peller and means forV operating it carried byvfY the body or hull, and a rope extending'down throu h the'verticalsocketforconnection with t ie anchor post. y

l0. In aircraft having a body'orA hull of boat form, a vertical socketat the center of* the body or hull adapted to receive and rotate on a fixed anchor post and a lifting pro; peller and means for operating it carriedby the. body or hull, the anchorV post being prf 1 vided with meansl for impelling ythe body or.4

hull upward.

ll. In aircraft. having a body or hullof boat form, a vertical socketfatthe center of the body or hull adapted to receive"andl roI tate on a fixed anchor post and `a` lifting pro-*r peller and means for operating it carriedV byv the body or hull, the anchor post being pro-f vided with means for impelling the body 'or l0 hull upward and a ropey extending downv through thevertical socket forA connection"- with the anchor post.V

12. In aircraft having-a boaysahau er f boat form, a vertical socket at the centerfof"4 the body or hull adaptedtoreceive andro#` tate on a. fixed-anchor post, and an anchor post, means adapted to be placed under ten?" sion carried by it for impellingth'e bodyjor hull upward;

13. In aircraft having a body or liullffofi boatform, a vertical socket at the center of 11 the body or hulladapted to receive and ro#V j tate on a fixed anchor post, and an anchor post and means carried byit for vimpelling i" the body or hull upward, said means Vcomprising a member vertically movable in the f i anchor post adapted to engage beneath the body or hull,` elastic means connecting th anchor post, `means for forcing the movable movable memberl with the upper end of the member downward on the anchor posttof place the elastic means under tension.

14. In aircraft having a body or hull of boat form, a vertical socket-attire centerfof.

the body or hull adapted toreceive andro`- tate on a xed anchorpost, and an anchor l post and meanscarrie'd bv Ait for impellingi=1 the body or hull upward, said means coml prising a member vertically movable ,in .the-iso 7 the body or hull adapted to receive and roanchor post adaptedto engage beneath the body or hull7 elast-ic means connecting the movable member with the upper end of the anchor post, means for forcing the movable member downward on the anchor post to' place the elastic means under tension and releasable means for holding the movable member at the lower end of the anchor post.

15. In aircraft having a body or hull of boat form, a vertical socket at the center of the body or hull adapted to receive and rotate on a fixed anchor post, and an anchor post having opposite slots longitudinal thereof and means carried by it for impelling the body or hull upward, said means comprising a cross bar verticall movable in the slots of the anchor post ac apted to engage beneath the body or hull, and elastic means connecting the cross bar with the upper end of the anchor post.

16. In aircraft having a. body or hull of boat form, a. vertical socket at the center of the body or hull adapted to receive and ro tate on a fixed anchor post, and an anchor post having opposite slots longitudinal thereof, and means carried by it for impelling the body or hull upward, said means comprising a cross bar vertically movable in the slots of the anchor post adapted to engage beneath the body or hull, elastic means connecting the cross bar with the upper end of the anchor post, means for forcing the movable member downward on the anchor post to place the elastic means under tension and releasable means for holding the movable member at the lower end of the anchor ost. l

p 17. In aircraft having a body or hull of boat form, a vertical socket at the center of the body or hull adapted to receive and rotate on a. fixed anchor post, an anchor post provided with means for impelling the body or hull upward, a base socket provided with means for fixedly securing it in solid material and means for detachably securing the anchor post to the basel socket.

18. In aircraft having a body or hull of boat form, a vertical socket at the center of the body or hull adapted to receive and rotate on a fixed anchor post and an anchor post provided with means for impelling the body or hull upward, a base socket, having a side opening, provided with means for fxedly securing it in solid material, means for detachably securing the anchor post t0 the base socket, a guide pulley within the socket and a rope extending from the uppeiI end of the vertical socket through the i. post and its base socket and out through the side opening.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto afix my signature.

. GEORGE B. STARKWEATHER. 

